Pile driving apparatus



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PILE DRIVING APPARATUS Herman R. Smith, Douglaston, N.Y., assignor to Raymond International Inc., New York, N. a corporation of New Jersey Application July 26, 1954, Serial No. 445,851 7 Claims. (Cl. 61-79) This invention relates to pile 'driving apparatus and more particularly to means and methods adapted for the driving of pipe or pile shells, such as are to form the containing means of concrete piles or the like.

In placing concrete piles, it is common practice firsty to drive into the earth a shell which may be either formed of corrugated sheet metal or with straight tubular walls. In some cases also, such shells may be of the so-called step-tapered type wherein succeeding lower sections are of smaller diameters, and in other cases they may be of a so-called straight-tapered type formed either integrally or in sections, with the lowermost portions of smaller diameters as compared with the upper portions. After such shells have been driven to the desired depth, they are filled with concrete to complete the pile'.

Heretofore it has been the common practice to drive such shells by the use of a rigid core therein, to the upper end of which impacts are applied from a pile-driving hammer. One of the preferred methods has been to use a core shaped to engage and apply the impacts to the lower end of the shell and also to rings or step-joints up along the shell, which rings connect succeeding section of the shell together. Thus, in effect, the impacts are so applied as to pull the shell or its sections downwardly into the earth. Accordingly, the sheet metal of which the shell, or shell sections, are made must be heavy and strong enough to safely withstand under tension, the forces of the pile-driver impacts without tearing the metal. Also, the step rings, as well as the bottom portions of the shell, must be made strong enough safely to withstand such heavy and repeated impacts without breakage, even though the shell may encounter rocks or other solid obstructions in the earth. In many, and probably most cases, it has also been foundv necessary or desirable to the expense of forming the sheet metal shells in corrugated form to .add to their strength against crushing and to addd to their longitudinal resiliency. For these reasons, the, cost of the sheet metal pile shells and of the accompanying parts has constituted an important part of the cost of installing concrete piles,

The present invention involves means and methods for substantially reducing such expense by'so driving the shells that they may be constructed of much thinner and less expensive sheet metal, permitting an important saving in the amount of steel required, and also permitting, if desired, employment of shells in the form of plain round cylindrical, or tapered pipes, which are inexpensive to fabricate and which may be conveniently nested for compact and inexpensive shipment.

These 4results are achieved in accordance with the present invention, by applying a portion of the 'force of the impacts of the pile-driver to the top ends of the shells or shell sections concurrently with the application of other portions of such forces down along the inside walls of the shells, by frictionally gripping such walls, still other portions of the force of the impacts, if desired, being applied to the bottom ends of the shells. Thus, by distributing the force of the impacts between the top ends,

Patented Apr. 7, 1959 2 side walls, and if desired the bottom ends of the shells or shell sections, it is possible to carry down into the earth much thinner shells or pipe sections than have heretofore been feasible for the purpose.

The invention may be practiced in connection with any of the above-mentioned general types of pile shells, viz., corrugated, step-tapered, or plain cylindrical pipe. It is possible to use plain cylindrical shells and to nest same for compact shipment provided they are made of two or three different diameters, differing from each other by a small amount. These may be driven on the same job with very little added expense as compared with driving a single size so far as concerns the amount of concrete and steel required, but there will be a material saving in freight as compared with a single size or shape which cannot be nested.

Other and more specific objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear from the detailed description given below, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this speciiication and illustrating by way of example the presently preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of an assembly in accordance with a preferred form of the present inven tion, as used with a tapered pile shell;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a similar embodiment of the invention as used in connection with a cylindrical pile shell of uniform diameter;-

Fig. 3 is a further enlarged vertical sectional view showing certain of the upper portions of the embodiment of the invention showns in Figs. l and 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are views similar to Fig. 3, but showing alternative embodiments of the invention; and

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings in further detail, in Fig. l, a steel pile shell is shown at 10 of a somewhat tapered and smooth-walled form, having a bottom plate or boot 11 welded thereon. A collapsible driving core construction 12 is contained within this shell. Such driving core may be of any of various known types, such for example as the one disclosed in U.S. Patent to M. M. Upson et al., No. 1,199,722, granted September 26, 1916, reference to which is hereby made. A similar collapsible driving core assembly is shown at 12 in Fig. 2, except that here the core is shaped to t within a plain cylindrical pile shell 10', rather than a tapered shell such as in Fig. l. Such collapsible cores have a plurality of longitudinally extending leaves as at 13, 14, 13,.14, which, when the core is in operation, are forced outwardly into frictional engagement with the pile shell, this being accomplishedas by pluralities of pairs of wedge means as at 15, 16, ete. located at spaced positions and which are controlled by a central control rod or tube 17, in the manner explained in said Upson et al. patent. That is, when the core is inserted down into the pile shell, such wedge means force the leaves as at 13', 14 outwardly, whereas it is desired to remove the core from the shell after the latter has been driven, the control rod or tube 17 is pulled upwardly, controlling the wedge means in a manner such as to allo-W the leaves to retract out of binding engagement with the pile shell. Since the operation of such collapsible cores is known, for example as explained in said patent among others, further details thereof need not be given herein.

One of the problems in attempting to drive pile shells by distributing portions of the force of the hammer impacts between the bottom and top ends as well as the side walls of the shells, involves the provision of some means whereby the impacts as received on the core, will be divided and applied with certainty to vall three ofvthese placs or areas, even though the dilerent shell assemblies being driven may vary somewhat in length or in both length and diameter, and at the same time insure that as the driving proceeds, portions of the impacts will still be applied at all these three places, viz. the top, bottomv and side surfaces. So far as concerns distributing portions of the force partially to the side walls and partially to the bottom of the shell, this maybe accomplished by using a collapsible driving core of known construction such as of said Upson et al. patent, and with which the bottom end of the core may be used to engage and apply force toa bottom plate or boot as at 11 or 11', while the core leaves as at 13, 14 or 13', 14 frictionally engage thel inner wall surfaces of the shell throughout the length thereof. However, there remains the problem of distributing a part of the force of each impact against the upper ends of the pile shells, even though the lengths of the shells as initially furnished may vary, or even though the same may be somewhat shortened in their length as the result of the impacts during driving. The presently preferred means for insuring this result is shown in Fig. 3, which is a vertical sectional view partly bro-ken away, but showing the features of construction at one side of the top portion of the core and shell assembly. Here the shell is provided with an annular reinforcing ring 20, welded in place at the top. The leaves, one of which is shown at 13', constituting a part of the collapsible core assembly 12', are each formed around their outer surface near their upper ends with grooves as at 21 of rectangular cross-section and adapted to be embraced by an annular member 22, the inner surface of which is formed with a plurality of inwardly directed portions as at 23, of a shape and size adapted to lit within the grooves 21. The outer surface of the member 22 is threaded as at 24 and thereby adapted for threaded engagement with the interior of another annular ring or collar member 25, the lower portion of which, as at 26, fits loosely around the leaves such as at 13' and has a lower edge 27 adapted to engage and apply the impacts to the upper end of the pile shell 10 and its reinforcing collar 20. The member 25 may be formed with an annular groove 28 for receiving lifting ring means 29.

The assembly of Fig. 3 (which is shown in substantially the same form but on smaller scales in Figs. 1 and 2) may be put together in the following way. First the collapsible driving core assembly 12 or 12 is suspended or otherwise held with the leaves thereof in collapsed or retracted position. Then the members 22, 2S either separately or after same are partially screwed together, may be slipped over the lower end of the core assembly, so that the portions 23 within member 22 come into positions opposite selected grooves 21. The particular grooves 21 which are selected will depend upon how high the upper end of the pile shell will be when the driving core is placed therein, that is, the portions 23 are to be placed respectively in. such of the grooves 21 as will readily permit the annular member 25 to be threaded down so that its lower end 27 will firmly engage the top of the pile shell when the bottom end of the driving core is in engagement with the boot or bottom plate of the pile shell. Since the location of the upper end of the shell may vary considerably, it will be understood that, although only four of the grooves 21 are here shown, additional like grooves may be provided to permit a wider degree of adjustment. Of course, when the leaves of the driving core are moved to expanded position, the portions 23 will be received in appropriate grooves 21, and thereafter when the core assembly is telescoped into the pile shell, the member 2S may be screwed down to the extent necessary for its lower end 27 to firmly engage the top of the shell, without causing the lower end of the core assembly to be raised from contact with the shell boot or bottom.

After the parts have been assembled and adjusted, as shown in Figs. l'-3, and the core leaves have been thrust outwardly to expanded position for rm frictional engagement with the shell, the driving of the shell may proceed by the application of the hammer impacts to the upper end of the driving core. And since the driving core is in contact with the boot at the bottom of the shell and at the same time since the lower end 27 of the member 2S bears against the upper end of the shell, it will be apparent that such impacts will be not only distributed to the bottom and topbut also partially along the sides of the shell by reason of the frictonal engagement of the leaves of the' driving core therewith. As the driving proceeds, in some cases there may be `a tendency for a gap to appear between the upper end of the shell and the lower end 27 of the member 25, due to compression of the shell or perhaps slight distortions of portions thereof, and in that event the member 25 may be screwed down so as to eliminate any such gap and to insure continued distribution of a portion of the driving impacts onto the top end of the shell. Any such changes in length of the shell or distortions thereof (within reasonable limits) will not interfere with the distribution of part of the force fric'- tionally against the interior walls of the shell, because the driving core leaves will continue to be maintained rmly in frictiona'l engagement with the shell and of course the bottom end of the driving core will continue to remain in driving Contact with the bottom plate or boot of the shell.

After the driving of the shell has been completed, it will be understood that the driving core leaves may be retracted, thereby permitting the driving core to be pulled up out of the shell. The parts 22, 25 may', if desired, be elevated a't the same time or later by the use of the lifting means' 29'. l

With the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 4, the core leaves as at 13a of the driving cor'e assembly 12a, may be threadedvexternally as at 40 for extensive threaded engagement with an annular member or collar 41, having lifting ring means as at 42. While in Fig. 3 the grooves as at 21 on the core leaves provide for wide adjustments to accommodate shells of dilerent heights while the threads as at 24 provide for finer adjustments, it will be understood that in Fig. 4 grooves such as at 21 and the member 22 are omitted for simplicity, and the member 41 is threaded directly to the core leaves, such threaded engagement being sutliciently extended to provide for the full range of adjustment necessary for pile shells of differing heights. It is contemplated, however, that the arrangement of Fig. 4 will be somewhat easier to quickly adjust.

With the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 5, a collapsible driving core assembly 12b is shown, having collapsible leaves as at 13b, which are surrounded by a two-piece or split collar member 50, the portions of which are held together as by bolts 51. The upper end of the collar Sl) is adapted to be engaged by the underside of the core head 52, while its lower end as at S3 has threaded engagement with the upper .internal threaded portion 54 of' another collar member 55, which, if desired, may also be of split form with its parts held together by bolts 56. The lower edge of the collar 55 is adapted to engage the upper endvof the pile shell as shown.

The embodiment of Fig. 5 may be desirable in cases where it is preferred that the driving core leaves not be weakened either by grooves as at 21 (Fig. 3) or by threads as at 40 (Fig. 4). Also, this form may be desired in cases where the engaging adjustable parts are likely to be injured so that they will need to be replacedy without going to the trouble and expense of disturbing or replacing anyvof thev driving core leaves. itA will be understood that the height of the member 55 of Fig. 5 with respect to the position of lmember 50 may vbe ad# justed` by reason of the threaded engagement between these members to the proper degree in the same way as may be 'accomplished with the threaded engagement of the parts' in Fig. 3, both before driving starts and from time to time during the shell driving operation, if that should prove to be necessary'or desirable.

If the assembly is made for use with straight-sided plain cylindrical pile shells, as shown in Fig. 2, and if the shell boot 11 is so made as to be removable (for example, threaded in place as indicated at 60), then the shell and core assembly may be shelled up conveniently for cases of excessively long piles, by methods such as described in Patent 2,639,589 to E. A. Smith, granted May 26, 1953. In such cases, the driving core headpieces, if same extend beyond the internal diameter of the shells, should also be made so as to be removable, for of course all such projecting parts would have to be removed from the core in order to permit shelling up as described in said Patent No. 2,639,589.

Patent to E. A. Smith, No. 2,684,577, of July 27, 1954, shows another form of collapsible core which may be used in carrying out the invention.

The invention has a number of important advantages and makes possible a number of significant economies beyond what have heretofore been achieved in the driving of pile shells. Fundamentally, the main advantage is that shells of thinner metal, and which are consequently less expensive, may be driven without breakage or distortion. And although the invention may be used with circumferentially or vertically fluted shells, it is most advantageous for use in driving plain cylindrical or smoothwalled tapered shells which are less expensive. Smoothwalled tapered shells may, of course, be compactly nested for economical shipment and the plain cylindrical shells, if made of slightly different diameters, may also be nested, and yet driven by the same driving core. The shells as driven by this invention have the `added advantage over step-tapered pile shells in that for a given diameter at the lower end, the diameters at higher points are less than for stepped shells and require less concrete to ll them and at the same time a simpler shell construction is possible. Since a rigid core structure is used in driving the shells, even though less rigid, they will penetrate harder material than will shells of the types designed to be driven without the use of a core.

Although certain particular embodiments of the invention are herein disclosed for purposes of explanation, various further modifications thereof, after study of this specification, will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. Reference should accordingly be had to the appended claims in determining the scope of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination comprising: a pile driving core assembly having longitudinally extending leaves adapted frictionally to engage and apply driving force to the interior surfaces of a pile shell and mechanism for retracting such leaves to permit withdrawal of the core from the shell; a sheet metal pile shell within which said driving core is contained, said shell having a bottom portion against which the lower end of the driving core is adapted to engage and apply a part of the force of driving impacts while other portions of such force are applied frictionally by the leaves to the wall of the shell; driving means encircling said core leaves and adapted to engage the top end of the shell for simultaneously imparting another portion of such force thereto, and means externally of said core leaves and internally of said driving means for vertically adjusting said driving means whereby such driving means can be brought into contact with the upper ends of shells of diierent heights while the lower end of the driving core is in engagement with the bottom portion of the shell.

2. The combination comprising: a collapsible pile driving core assembly having longitudinally extending portions adapted frictionally to engage and apply driving force to the interior surfaces of a pile shell; a ysheet metal pile shell within which said driving core is contained, said shell having a bottom portion against which the lower end of the driving core engages to apply a part of the force of driving impacts thereto while other portions of such force are applied frictionally to the wall of the shell; and top driving means engaging the top end of the shell for imparting another portion of such forces thereto, said top driving means encircling said core portions, and vertical adjustment means positioned externally of said core portions and internally of said top driving means whereby said top driving means can be brought into Contact with the upper ends of shells of different heights.

3. A collapsible core assembly for driving pile shells having: a lower end portion adapted to engage and apply driving force to the bottom portion of the shell; retractable leaves extending longitudinally of the core and adapted frictionally to engage the interior walls of the shell to apply simultaneously a part of the driving force thereto, such leaves being adapted to be retracted to permit the core to be later withdrawn from the shell; a driving collar member encircling said core leaves and adapted to engage the top end of the shell for imparting another portion of such force thereto, and means externally of said core leaves and internally of said driving means for vertically adjusting said driving means whereby such driving means can be brought into contact with the upper ends of shells of different heights while the lower end of the driving core is in engagement with the bottom portion of the shell.

4. A collapsible core assembly for driving pile shells having: a lower end portion adapted to engage and apply driving force to the bottom portion of the shell; a longitudinally extending core portion adapted frictionally to engage the interior walls of the shell to apply a part of the driving force thereto; a driving collar member encircling said longitudinally extending core portion and means positioned between said longitudinally extending core portion and said driving collar for vertically adjusting the driving collar whereby the latter can be brought into contact with the upper ends of shells of different heights while the lower end portion of the core is engaged with the bottom of the shell.

5. A collapsible core assembly for driving pile shells having: a lower end portion adapted to engage and apply driving force to the bottom portion of the shell; retractable leaves extending longitudinally of the core and adapted frictionally to engage the interior Walls of the shell to apply a part of the driving force thereto; a driving collar member encircling the upper portion of said assembly in a position adapted to engage and apply another part of the driving force to the upper end of a pile shell, and another collar, such other collar and the upper portions of said leaves having multiple tongue and groove engaging portions permitting `such other collar, when the leaves are retracted to be shifted vertically to different positions of engagement with the leaves, and said driving collar being mounted for adjustable, vertical positioning by means of a threaded engagement with said other collar.

6. A core assembly in accordance with the foregoing claim 4 wherein said means for vertically adjusting said collar comprises a threaded connection between the longitudinally extending core portion and collar.

7. A core assembly in accordance with the foregoing claim 3 and on the upper end of which another collar is secured and which has threaded engagement with the driving collar.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 722,866 Mack Mar. 17, 1903 777,351 Raymond Dec. 13, 1904 900,140 Whitehill Oct. 6, 1908 1,848,301 Barnes Mar. 8, 1932 1,872,688 Dealy Aug. 23, 1932 1,936,541 Mechlin Nov. 21, 1933 2,229,408 Ekin Jan. 21, 1941 

